1. < Sarcoma

Anyone have night terrors and nightmares from pain medication?

Posted by brenda4usc @brenda4usc, Dec 22, 2024

Hello, just a question as to wondering if anybody else has had night terror/nightmares as a result of their pain medication. I’m working with a pain doctor and we are going to change from morphine to the Buprenorphine Patch. The nightmares started before my radiation treatment and I don’t know if it’s because I have PTSD and anxiety, but it really has shaken me to the core and brought me back to my faith. I am new to the group and sorry if this is an off-topic of conversation, but just hoping to get to the bottom of this as I know sleep is important for healing, but the night terrors have me fearing sleep. I have a psychiatrist and I am seeking a therapist and/or a 1 on 1 support peer group. I am newly diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma High Grade Sarcoma-T3 N0 in my left thigh, which is quite painful. (I also have a lot of back and sciatica pain from previous injuries). My plan is 5 days of Radiation (3-D IGRT) for 5 weeks then recovery for approximately 3 weeks then surgery to remove the mass, and follow up with more radiation if needed. I am trying to learn as fast as I can, but this is so hard. Sorry if TMI. Thank you

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Sarcoma Support Group.

Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jan 3 5:46pm

@brenda4usc, having night terrors and nightmares must be very scary. I moved your question into a discussion on its own to attention to it. You're so right that sleep helps healing. You don't want to be fearful of sleep.

Is the buprenorphine skin patch working better for you? Is the pain controlled? How are you doing?

REPLY
2 replies
richard515 | @richard515 | Jan 4 7:26am
In reply to @colleenyoung "@brenda4usc, having night terrors and nightmares must be very scary. I moved your question into a..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

@brenda4usc, having night terrors and nightmares must be very scary. I moved your question into a discussion on its own to attention to it. You're so right that sleep helps healing. You don't want to be fearful of sleep.

Is the buprenorphine skin patch working better for you? Is the pain controlled? How are you doing?

Jump to this post

Brenda I am stage 4 chondrosarcoma and was switched to a fentanyl patch 25mcg. I had constant nightmares because I could no longer access deep sleep. I started taking zolpidem to help me sleep and I do now get about 6 hours and virtually no nightmares. When dozing in the day I get a lot of hallucinations and wake frequently. Good luck . This started in my right knee and because of misdiagnosis I lost 3/4 quads my femur and knee in surgery. You have my sympathy and best wishes.

REPLY
1 reply
brenda4usc | @brenda4usc | Jan 5 6:14pm
In reply to @richard515 "Brenda I am stage 4 chondrosarcoma and was switched to a fentanyl patch 25mcg. I had..." + (show)
@richard515

Brenda I am stage 4 chondrosarcoma and was switched to a fentanyl patch 25mcg. I had constant nightmares because I could no longer access deep sleep. I started taking zolpidem to help me sleep and I do now get about 6 hours and virtually no nightmares. When dozing in the day I get a lot of hallucinations and wake frequently. Good luck . This started in my right knee and because of misdiagnosis I lost 3/4 quads my femur and knee in surgery. You have my sympathy and best wishes.

Jump to this post

Thank you for replying to my inquiry. I’m so very sorry for everything you’re having to go through. What a true living nightmare with your misdiagnosis, too. I do wish there would be more conversation available so we can try to be educated when we go into the pain doctors. Praying for you to have peace and be healed soon.

REPLY
brenda4usc | @brenda4usc | Jan 5 6:23pm
In reply to @colleenyoung "@brenda4usc, having night terrors and nightmares must be very scary. I moved your question into a..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

@brenda4usc, having night terrors and nightmares must be very scary. I moved your question into a discussion on its own to attention to it. You're so right that sleep helps healing. You don't want to be fearful of sleep.

Is the buprenorphine skin patch working better for you? Is the pain controlled? How are you doing?

Jump to this post

Thank you, Colleen, for moving my question in hopes of getting more help.
No, unfortunately, the
Buprenorphine patch does not help. I’m having to wait over 10 days to see my pain doctor to get any help. All he could suggest was (over the phone) was 3000 MG of Tylenol. I’m halfway through my radiation treatment and still in panda in the day and severe pain at night. I live in Florida and the laws are not patient friendly, due to the opioid epidemic. Now I know why the ER is constantly filled to maximum capacity. I will update in a few days when I see the pain doctor in person to see if there is any help he can provide. I truly feel sorry for everyone who has this dreadful disease and it breaks my heart to think of the children who are suffering with it as well.

REPLY
1 reply
brenda4usc | @brenda4usc | Jan 5 6:28pm
In reply to @brenda4usc "Thank you, Colleen, for moving my question in hopes of getting more help. No, unfortunately, the..." + (show)
@brenda4usc

Thank you, Colleen, for moving my question in hopes of getting more help.
No, unfortunately, the
Buprenorphine patch does not help. I’m having to wait over 10 days to see my pain doctor to get any help. All he could suggest was (over the phone) was 3000 MG of Tylenol. I’m halfway through my radiation treatment and still in panda in the day and severe pain at night. I live in Florida and the laws are not patient friendly, due to the opioid epidemic. Now I know why the ER is constantly filled to maximum capacity. I will update in a few days when I see the pain doctor in person to see if there is any help he can provide. I truly feel sorry for everyone who has this dreadful disease and it breaks my heart to think of the children who are suffering with it as well.

Jump to this post

I’m sorry, Colleen that should say I’m in pain during the day and extreme pain at night. The nightmares have lightened up and they are just more like very vivid dreams. My sweet husband sleeps trying to keep an ear out for when I start breathing different or moaning, as he can tell when the nightmares seem to be coming on, I look forward to the day when we both can get a decent sleep.
Thank you again for your help and concern❤️‍🩹🙏

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.